The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-09-30
Patagonia.

Patagonia Is the territory occupying
the southern extremity Of the Continent
of South America. II extends from the
Rio Negro on the north to the Straits OF
Magellan on the south, length Of ,000
miles. The peninsula is AIS miles wide
at its northern boundary and 175 miles
wide near the straits; its area, including
both sides of the Andes, is about $50. 900
square miles. Patagonia is traversed
from north TO south by the Andes Noun
tains, which here lie nearer TO the coast
than anywhere else south Of the Isthmus
of Panama. At many points the spurs
OF the mountain chain extend to the
rocky edge of the ocean. The narrow
strip of land west of the mountains and
the border of islands fringing the coast
belong to Chill. The remainder of the
peninsula is attached to the Argentine
Republic. East of the mountains the
country is generally fat How
ever, the territory has been
very imperfectly explored There
are several rivers that traverse the east
ern plains, of which the most important
are the Santa Cruz, the st George, the
Chuput and the Rio Negro. There are
believed to be several fine lakes in the in
terror of the country, but only one of
these, Lake Medina, in the southern
part, has been explored As to the
climates, the winters are long and cold,
and the brief summers are very hot, and,
In the interior, drOughts are frequent.
But on the coast there is more rain, and
the seasons are more temperate There is
general similarity in the vegetation
throughout all Patagonia. There are
trees which grow along the rivers, but
the plains are generally covered with
grass only, or dwarf spiny shrubs. Wild
cattle and horses are found on the plains,
and pumas, guanacos, wolves, foxes and
other large animals abound. Patagonia
was discovered in 1920 by Magellan.
He named the country, it is said, from
the Spanish word patagon, large foot,
because of large footprints he saw on the
sand, but it has since been noticed that
the PatagOnians have feet that are rather
small in proportion to their size.
Since then the country has been,
to a limited extent, explored by
various Europeans, and the Ameri-
can Hassler expedition, in 1871, made
a survey of the coast. Colonization has
not been altogether successful. There is
Scotch colony at Port Desire, which
was established for the purpose of sup
plying and repairing ships Other
European colonies have been attempted.
but have been given up. Settlements
Of the Chilians and Argentines have been
more permanent Since 1881 the claim
of the Argentine Republic to Eastern
Patagonia, before contested by Chill, has
been fully conceded The Argentines
have quelled the hostile Indian tribes,
and have made considerable exploration
of the country. They find the northern
plains of little value except for grazing,
but farther south, the land is better
fitted for cultivation, and some promis-
ing colonies have already been planted !
upon it The original Indian inhabitants
of Patagonia have now dwindled down |
to a few thousands. They have always |
been regarded as one of the lowest of |
known races in point of development.
Thsz nFs described as sShg
has been made upon their savagery in
certain districts through the missionaries
they are still a rude, wild race, but are
rapidly passing away before the inroads
Of more intelligent nations. Inter Ocean